[sy2]

I read the below article and thought it would be good to share, but couldn't find a definitive thread for it. So I thought I'd start this one.

I know that this isn't beginning as a "debate" necessarily, but I believe that it will develop into some very interesting discussion and speculation. If not, please feel free to move to Random. I'd like to have a nice thread in here with general science updates that might not fit anywhere else - and a place for anyone to speculate on where these new discoveries may lead and what implications they might have for any and all of us.

I'd like to start with two links:

Debunking Myths about the "Third World"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUwS1uAdUcI

Let me start by saying that this isn't anything political! This is a talk given by Hans Rosling (click for wiki) at the 2006 TED Conference. The most interesting aspect of the video, IMO, is how incredibly useful data can be if used in the right way. His presentation is enthralling and the way that makes the data speak to you is impressive. The content of the speech is mostly about how diverse Africa and "third world nations" are, how many of us have incorrect preconceived notions about many of these places, and how we need to go about solving the problem in the future. The video is 20 minutes long, so watch it when you've got time, if possible - I got sucked in and watched it all the first time through

This second link is what made me start the topic because I thought it was so cool but didn't know where to share it.

Bizarre Hexagon Spotted on Saturn
http://www.space.com/scienceastronom...aturn_hex.html

""This is a very strange feature, lying in a precise geometric fashion with six nearly equally straight sides," said Kevin Baines, atmospheric expert and member of Cassini's visual and infrared mapping spectrometer team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. "We've never seen anything like this on any other planet. Indeed, Saturn's thick atmosphere, where circularly-shaped waves and convective cells dominate, is perhaps the last place you'd expect to see such a six-sided geometric figure, yet there it is."

The hexagon is nearly 15,000 miles (25,000 kilometers) across. Nearly four Earths could fit inside it. The thermal imagery shows the hexagon extends about 60 miles (100 kilometers) down into the clouds. "

Direct link to picture here.

If there's another thread like this that already exists, please feel free to merge them and accept my apology

[poochee]

I'm not a scientific type, so won't get involved. Just think it's interesting.

As to the "third world" item it reminded me of a question I asked a friend who had just returned from a trip to Africa. I asked what was the native dress like? She said with a smile "you mean the t-shirts and reboks they wear"?

[sy2]

Originally Posted by poochee

I'm not a scientific type, so won't get involved. Just think it's interesting.

As to the "third world" item it reminded me of a question I asked a friend who had just returned from a trip to Africa. I asked what was the native dress like? She said with a smile "you mean the t-shirts and reboks they wear"?

That's funny

What he says about Africa, IIRC, is that it's a much more diverse country than we "westerners" seem to believe, and that we need to keep that in mind when we send aid/food/etc... Something that works in one particular country in Africa must be completely redesigned for it to be effective in a much poorer, completely culturally different part - but before we can get to that point we have to realize just how diverse Africa is! His presentation is just amazing - the interactivity of the graphs and data makes some hard-to-visualize concepts very accessible.

[poochee]

Originally Posted by sy2

That's funny

What he says about Africa, IIRC, is that it's a much more diverse country than we "westerners" seem to believe, and that we need to keep that in mind when we send aid/food/etc... Something that works in one particular country in Africa must be completely redesigned for it to be effective in a much poorer, completely culturally different part - but before we can get to that point we have to realize just how diverse Africa is! His presentation is just amazing - the interactivity of the graphs and data makes some hard-to-visualize concepts very accessible.

Yes, the average person has no knowledge of Africa other than what they see on TV or in the movies. They think all Africans are the same regardless of the country they are from. I at least know that's not so!

My friend and her husband have been there 5 times. She was a docent at the zoo, and they plan a trip each year for zoo workers. They took many beautiful pictures of the people and the animals to share, as well as some interesting stories.

[bassetman]

I heard tonight about a new type of twins, "Semi-identical" twins!

[poochee]

Originally Posted by bassetman

I heard tonught about a new type of twins, "Semi-identical" twins!

Now next?

[bassetman]

Originally Posted by poochee

Now next?

2 sperm, 1 egg.

[sy2]

Rare Semi-Identical Twins Discovered
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/...winsdiscovered

[sy2]

NASA article on the hexagonal formation on Saturn:
Link

"Pasadena, Calif. -- An odd, six-sided, honeycomb-shaped feature circling the entire north pole of Saturn has captured the interest of scientists with NASA's Cassini mission.

NASA's Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft imaged the feature over two decades ago. The fact that it has appeared in Cassini images indicates that it is a long-lived feature. A second hexagon, significantly darker than the brighter historical feature, is also visible in the Cassini pictures. The spacecraft's visual and infrared mapping spectrometer is the first instrument to capture the entire hexagon feature in one image. "

Also a .MOV video of the formation: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedi...s/PIA09187.mov

And a similar oddity at the south pole on Saturn: http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/archive/PIA08332.mov

[DiSaidSo]

Psst! We have a Science & Space Thread over in Random!

Shhhhhhhhh it's a seeeeeeeeeeecret!

[poochee]

Good links guys. Always something to learn!!

[sy2]

Originally Posted by DiSaidSo

Psst! We have a Science & Space Thread over in Random!

Shhhhhhhhh it's a seeeeeeeeeeecret!

Ahem...

Originally Posted by me

If there's another thread like this that already exists, please feel free to merge them and accept my apology

I tried to cover my bases there (I don't frequent Random too much - not enough drama )

If a mod wants to merge them, please feel free

[DiSaidSo]

Originally Posted by sy2

Ahem...



I tried to cover my bases there (I don't frequent Random too much - not enough drama )

If a mod wants to merge them, please feel free

I'm sorry. I didn't see that sentence. I was too busy scanning for stories I hadn't seen yet.

Also, there are a few threads over in Random that I think you'd dig.

[angelize56]

Here's a thread for science and space in Random that has been ongoing for some time!

http://forums.techguy.org/random-dis...ce-thread.html

[poochee]

Originally Posted by angelize56

Here's a thread for science and space in Random that has been ongoing for some time!

http://forums.techguy.org/random-dis...ce-thread.html

I can't speak for SY, but I got the impression he wanted this as a separate thread. As Third World doesn't fit into the Science and Space thread in Random. Should keep my nose out of it I guess, but I can't help myself.